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Helicopter squadrons return from six-month deployment to Sea of Japan

Posted at 8:57 AM, Jun 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-22 15:21:53-04

CORONADO, Calif. (CNS) - The "Black Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 4 and the "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 78 returned home to Naval Air Station North Island Thursday following a six-month deployment.

HSC-4 personnel were attached to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Those with HSM-78 were spread out between the Carl Vinson, cruiser USS Lake Champlain, and destroyers USS Michael Murphy and Wayne E. Mayer. The USS Michael Murphy is based in Pearl Harbor -- the others are based in San Diego.

The ships are scheduled to return Friday.

The squadrons departed San Diego in early January. During the cruise, the vessels were sent to the Sea of Japan during a period of heightened tensions with North Korea.